Türkiye detects illegal Greece pushback of irregular migrants

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish coast guards saved lives of irregular migrants who were illegally pushed back to Türkiye by Greek coast guards in the Aegean Sea, the country's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"On August 16, 2022, a Turkish Navy UAV detected irregular migrants being transferred to an inflatable boat and pushed back towards Turkish territorial waters by the Greek Coast Guard in the north of Karaburun, Izmir.

"The situation was immediately reported to the Turkish Coast Guard which rescued the irregular migrants," the ministry said on Twitter.

The ministry also shared the visuals of the illegal pushbacks.

Türkiye has been a key transit point for asylum seekers aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.